Are Your Clothes Making You Sick?

Many of my readers have probably rarely thought that the clothes they wear could be damaging their bodies and harming their health.

It’s not a thought that would cross your mind because clothes…are clothes.  You don’t eat them. You don’t breathe them in. They just sit there on top of your skin and keep you warm and protect you from the elements.

But, while clothes are necessary, it would appear they’re not all good for you.

Just another thing to worry about, I can hear you say.

Sadly, yes. 

But this is just what happens when you take a hard look at all the products we’ve introduced in the past 100 or so years.

In this article, you’ll learn about the potential dangers of certain kinds of clothing (not all clothing) and what they could do to you.

Petroleum Based Clothing Is Not Great (Even If They Look and Feel Amazing)

Many of the fabrics we use today aren’t what one would call “natural” or are known to be synthetic.

But let me unpack that.

If you’re wearing a cotton t-shirt, it is “natural,” but it’s not like you were just able to go to a few cotton plants and voilà you have a shirt. You still need to process the raw material in order to get a shirt.

Many synthetic fibers come from “natural” sources, like petroleum, but are then synthesized using other natural but potentially toxic substances.

And this is the rub.

We have dozens upon dozens of synthetic clothing blends out there, and we absolutely love them because they feel great and have tons of desirable properties.

Sadly, these clothes pose issues for people who wear them because of how they're made.

Consider this:

In 2011, Alaska Airlines flight attendants reported severe health issues, including rashes and respiratory problems, after receiving new synthetic uniforms. 

Tests revealed toxic chemicals were added to the clothes during their production, and they wreaked havoc on the wearer’s health.  

A Harvard study linked these uniforms to increased health complaints. 

Similar incidents have occurred with other airlines and in the fashion industry. 

There are numerous chemicals added to synthetic, including formaldehyde, perfluorochemicals,  tributyl phosphate, lead, arsenic, cobalt, antimony, restricted dyes, toluene, hexavalent chromium, and dimethyl fumarate, and more.

None of those are good for you.

And when you consider your skin is your body’s largest organ and clothing rests directly on top of the skin and will absorb it… 

Because the chemicals interplay with your skin, they can operate as endocrine disruptors. 

In fact, studies have documented this. 

A study found that men wearing polyester underwear had lower sperm counts and testicular volume. This leads to reproductive issues, as lower sperm counts are linked to infertility. 

An animal study showed that polyester reduced progesterone levels in female dogs, leading to them becoming sterile. While humans and dogs differ, the concern over polyester's effects remains. Using natural fabric undergarments is advised to maintain fertility.

If you think about all the airborne and food-borne toxins we have to contend with, it’s staggering. Then, layer on top of that, the clothing we wear is seeping through our skin and into our bloodstream, directly on top of sensitive organs…well it’s no wonder we have so many health issues (like infertility, auto-immune conditions, and more).

Additionally, synthetic material can shed microfibers, which can be ingested and have been linked to health issues such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage.  This isn’t to say that natural fibers don’t shed too (anyone who’s worn a brand new cotton t-shirt can bear witness to them shedding). Still, natural materials aren’t petroleum derivatives and are less problematic.

Are Natural Materials Safe? Maybe, Maybe Not

Of course, if you’re reading this, you’re likely wondering, but what about cotton, linen, muslin, and other materials? Are they better?

Well, it depends.

The primary reason synthetics are an issue is because of the chemicals they’re made with. Whereas cotton can be picked and then put on a loom to make a shirt without the need for any additional chemicals being needed, most synthetics rely on chemicals for their production.

Natural materials are inherently safer.

But,  there are plenty of chemicals used on cheap cotton clothing that put you at risk. Dyes and plastics added in screen printing create a risk as well.

That’s why if you are shopping for natural clothing, you want to use clothing that is made with safe dyes. 

In general, if natural clothing is made with chemicals that have certifications like Oeko-Tex and BlueSign it ensures that textiles meet safety and environmental standards. Also, if the clothing has certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), this ensures that the textiles are produced sustainably and free from harmful chemicals.

Natural Or Not?

The fact is synthetic clothing isn’t going anywhere.

If you want to wear it, keep in mind that it will be impossible to get it without the use of chemical manufacturing.

Yet, you can look for brands that use Oeko-Tex, BlueSign, or GOTS-certified chemicals in manufacturing for safer versions.

You can also consider washing these materials in cold water and air drying to minimize the creation of microplastics.

Heat is the enemy of most synthetics, and if you are able to prevent excess heat hitting your clothing, it will be better.

And while I think if you can afford to spend the time and money on better versions of clothing, I don’t believe your clothing choice is nearly as important as other health choices you could make.

It matters, but not nearly as much as diet, exercise, sleep, etc.

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